THE NUMBER of Poles registering to work in Ireland fell by 37 per cent to 8,742 last year reflecting lower immigration due to the recession.

New figures show 69,039 foreign nationals were issued personal public service (PPS) numbers in 2010, down from 79,986 a year earlier. This compares to 156,151 registrations in 2008 of PPS numbers, which are allocated by the Department of Social Protection to enable people to work or access public services.

snip....However, people issued with numbers from Lithuania and Romania increased to 4,353 and 3,002 respectively in 2010. These figures, which go against the general downward trend, may reflect lower living standards and a deep recession in both countries in recent years.Brazilians obtaining PPS numbers also increased to 4,257 in 2010, up from 2,741 a year earlier.

_________________The real damage is done by those millions who want to 'get by'. The ordinary men who just want to be left in peace. Those who don’t want their lives disturbed by anything bigger than themselves. Those with no sides and no causes. Those who won’t take measure of their own strength, for fear of antagonizing their own weakness. Those people who roll up their spirits into tiny little balls so as to be safe. Safe?! From what?Sophie Scholl